Fiber optic cable slack management module

ABSTRACT

A fiber optic cable slack management module includes a base defining a first cable management spool, an outer face of which is configured to contact cables when cables are pulled away from the base and a second cable management spool, within which the first cable management spool is located. An inner face of the second cable management spool is configured to contact cables when cables are in a relaxed, non-pulled state. The fiber optic cable slack management module defines a cable exit adjacent the first cable management spool and defined at least partially by the inner face of the second cable management spool, the cable exit defined by a channel positioned between the first and second cable management spools.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/352,267, filed on Mar. 13, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,830,959, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/533,837, filedon Jun. 7, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,247,886, which is a National StageApplication of PCT/US2015/064345, filed on Dec. 7, 2015, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/090,203, filed onDec. 10, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. To the extent appropriate, a claim ofpriority is made to each of the above disclosed applications.

FIELD

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for terminationand storage of optical fiber cables, such as distribution cables.

BACKGROUND

With respect to termination and storage of optical fibers includingdistribution fibers, various concerns exist. One concern is providinghigh density to minimize needed space. In the case of outside plantenclosures, a reduced size for the enclosures and the internalstructures is preferred.

A further concern related to termination and storage of optical fibercables is the ease of access to the cables and the terminations. Suchease of use is desired during assembly, during installation in thefield, and later when changes or modifications to the system are desiredrequiring adding or removing terminations, or when cleaning and checkingthe terminations.

A further concern in the area of termination and storage of opticalfiber cables includes protecting the optical fiber from damage fromexcess bending below the minimum bend radius of the cable. Suchprotection of the fibers is desired during assembly and installation,and later when individual terminations and cables are accessed forcleaning or modification.

Further improvements in these areas are desired.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic cable slackstorage/management module for managing slack associated with fiberterminations in a distribution chassis or frame. The cable slack moduleincludes a base defining a first cable management spool, an outer faceof which is configured to contact cables when cables are pulled awayfrom the base, and a second cable management spool, within which thefirst cable management spool is located. An inner face of the secondcable management spool is configured to contact cables when cables arein a relaxed, non-pulled state. The fiber optic cable slack managementmodule defines a cable exit adjacent the first cable management spooland defined at least partially by the inner face of the second cablemanagement spool, the cable exit defined by a channel positioned betweenthe first and second cable management spools.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fiber optictelecommunications system comprising a telecommunications chassisincluding at least one movable adapter module mounted to the chassis andat least one cable slack management module mounted to the chassisadjacent the at least one adapter module, the cable slack managementmodule configured to manage cables extending from fiber optic connectorscoupled to adapters of the adapter module. The at least one cable slackmanagement module includes a base defining a first cable managementspool, an outer face of which is configured to contact cables whencables are pulled away from the base, and a second cable managementspool, within which the first cable management spool is located. Aninner face of the second cable management spool is configured to contactcables when cables are in a relaxed, non-pulled state. The fiber opticcable slack management module defines a cable exit adjacent the firstcable management spool and defined at least partially by the inner faceof the second cable management spool, the cable exit defined by achannel positioned between the first and second cable management spools.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in thedescription that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individualfeatures and combinations of features. It is to be understood that boththe foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broadinventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein arebased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a telecommunications chassisincluding a plurality of cable slack management modules having inventiveaspects in accordance with the present disclosure mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the chassis of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates the chassis of FIG. 1 with one of the cable slackmanagement modules and a sliding adapter module of the chassis explodedoff the chassis;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the chassis of FIGS. 1-3 illustrating the cableslack management modules mounted in a stacked configuration;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of one of the cable slack managementmodules shown in isolation;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the cable slack management moduleof FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the cable slack management module of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the cable slack management module of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the cable slack management module of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 10 illustrates the cable slack management module of FIG. 5 with theupper cover removed to show the internal features;

FIG. 11 illustrates the cable slack management module of FIG. 10 from atop view;

FIG. 12 illustrates the cable slack management module of FIG. 5 in anexploded configuration;

FIG. 13 illustrates the cable slack management module being used as adirect pass-through distribution module without the storage of extracable slack;

FIG. 14 illustrates the cable slack management module with only one ofthe trays of the module being used to store extra cable slack;

FIG. 15 illustrates the cable slack management module with both of thetrays of the module being used to store extra cable slack;

FIG. 16 illustrates the cable slack management module of FIG. 15 in afully assembled configuration with the upper cover mounted thereon,wherein the output fibers are shown as being directed to sliding adaptermodules; and

FIG. 17 illustrates the cable slack management module of FIG. 16 from atop view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-17 , a fiber optic cable slackmanagement/storage module 10 having inventive aspects in accordance withthe present disclosure is illustrated. In FIGS. 1-4 , a plurality of thecable slack management modules 10 is illustrated as mounted on atelecommunications fixture 12 (i.e., frame, chassis) in a stackedarrangement. The cable slack management modules 10 are mounted adjacentsliding adapter modules 14. The cable slack management modules 10 areconfigured to manage the cabling 16 (or cable slack) extending fromconnectors 18 coupled to the adapter modules 14.

As will be described in further detail, the cabled fibers 16 terminatedby the connectors 18 coupled to the sliding adapter modules 14 are inputinto the cable slack management module 10 via an optical device 20(e.g., a fan-out in the depicted embodiment). The configuration of thecable slack management module 10 allows extra cable slack 16 to bestored therewithin such that the extra cable slack 16 can be used whenthe sliding adapter modules 14 are moved outwardly from thetelecommunications fixture 12, without violating minimum bendingrequirements.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-17 , where one of the cable slack managementmodules 10 is illustrated in isolation, each cable slack managementmodule 10 includes a base 22 with a bottom wall 24 and verticallyextending peripheral walls 26. The base 22 defines a fan-out pocket 25for receiving the fan-out 20 with a snap-fit interlock. The fan-outpocket 25 is defined partially by the bottom wall 24. The fan-out pocket25 and the fan-out 20 define the fiber input portion 28 of the cableslack management module 10.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 11, and 17 , portions of the front and rearperipheral walls 26 of the base 22 define flexible cantilever arms 30for providing a snap-fit interlock with the telecommunications fixture12.

The base 22 defines a first spool 32 extending upwardly from the bottomwall 24 of the base 22. As will be described in further detailhereafter, the first spool 32 is one of the structures that provide theminimum bend radius protection for the cables 16 within the cable slackmanagement module 10.

As shown in FIGS. 5-17 , each cable slack management module 10 alsodefines a pair of cable storage trays 34. The trays 34 are mounted in astacked arrangement onto the base 22 and define a lower tray 34 a and anupper tray 34 b. Cables 16 enter the individual trays 34 via a ramp 36defined by each tray 34. After the fibers 16 are input into the cableslack management module 10 via the fan-out 20, half of the separated andcabled fibers 16 enter the lower tray 34 a via the ramp 36 of the lowertray 34 a and half of the separated and cabled fibers 16 enter the uppertray 34 b via the ramp 36 of the upper tray 34 b.

In the given embodiment of the cable slack management module 10, theupper tray 34 b (the floor 38 thereof) forms the cover 40 of the lowertray 34 a. The upper tray 34 b defines a separate removable cover 42.The trays 34 are mounted via a snap-fit interlock to the base 22. Asshown in FIGS. 5, 6, 10, 12, and 13-16 , a flexible portion 44 of boththe front peripheral wall 26 and the rear peripheral wall 26 of the base22 defines notches 46 for receiving tabs 48 extending outwardly from thetrays 34 for keeping the trays 34 mounted within the base 22.

The removable cover 42 of the upper tray 34 b is also held in place byan inwardly extending tab 50 of the flexible portion 44 of the rearperipheral wall 26 and flexible cantilever arms 52 defined by the firstspool 32. In certain embodiments, the cover 42 used with the upper tray34 b may be provided with a handle 54 to facilitate mounting and removal(see FIGS. 5-7 ).

Each of the upper and lower trays 34 defines an opening 56 through whichthe first spool 32 extends. Thus, the first spool 32 extends all the wayfrom the bottom wall 24 to the cover 42 of the upper tray 34 b.

Each tray 34 also includes a curved peripheral wall 58, the inner face60 of which defines a second spool 62. The second spool 62 defined byeach tray 34 cooperates with the first spool 32 in keeping the cableslack 16 stored and managed without violating minimum bend radiusrequirements.

The second spool 62 (i.e., the inner face 60 of the curved peripheralwall 58 of each tray 34) is configured to contact the cables 16 withinthe tray 34 when the cables 16 are in a relaxed state (when the slidingadapter modules 14 are in a non-extended position). An outer face 64 ofthe first spool 32 is configured to contact the cables 16 within thetray 34 when the cables 16 are pulled (when the sliding adapter modules14 are moved to an extended position).

The combination of the first spool 32 and the second spool 62 providesthe cables 16 with bend radius protection both in a relaxed state and ina pulled, tensioned state.

Each tray 34 also defines a plurality of cable retention fingers 66extending inwardly from the peripheral wall 58. The cable retentionfingers 66 facilitate initial assembly of the cable slack managementmodule 10 as the cables 16 are being lead from the fan-out 20, up theramps 36 and into the trays 34. In order to provide unobstructedmovement of the cables 16 within the trays 34, however, the cableretention fingers 66 fit within notches 68 defined by the cover 42 forthe upper tray 34 b and notches 70 defined by the floor 38 of the uppertray 34 b for the lower tray 34 a. In this manner, a smooth, flushceiling is created for each of the trays 34 and the cables 16 can movewithout any obstruction.

The cable exit portion 72 of the cable slack management module 10 isdefined adjacent the first spool 32 and at least partially by the innerface 60 of the peripheral wall 58 of each tray 34 (i.e., the secondspool 62), where the cable exit 72 is generally defined by a channel 74positioned between the first and second spools 32, 62 as can be seen inFIGS. 10, 11, and 14-16 . The cable exit portion 72 is generally alignedwith the fiber input portion 28 of the cable slack management module 10when viewing the module 10 in a front to back direction.

Thus, the optical fibers 16 enter the cable slack management module 10via the fan-out 20 at a first common plane 76. The separated and cabledfibers 16 are then directed to multiple levels defined by the trays 34via the ramps 36. The cables 16 are looped once around the trays 34 andexit the cable slack management module 10 via the cable exit channel 74.It should be noted that in the depicted embodiment, half of the cabledfibers 16 coming from the fan-out 20 are directed into the lower tray 34a and half are directed into the upper tray 34 b.

The cables 16 exiting the cable slack management module 10 areterminated with fiber optic connectors 18 that are coupled to theadapters 17 of the sliding adapter modules 14.

Although shown with LC format connectors 18, in other embodiments, thecables 16 output from the cable slack management module 10 may beterminated with other types or footprints of connectors 18 such as SC orLX.5, such connectors 18 leading to adapter modules 14 having adapters17 with matching footprints.

Examples of sliding adapter modules 14 that are usable with the cableslack management module 10 of the present disclosure are shown anddescribed in further detail in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/040,314, filed Aug. 21, 2014, now PCT Application No.PCT/US2015/046392, filed Aug. 21, 2015, both titled “High DensityAdapter Carrier Pack;” and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,591,051 and 9,075,203, eachof which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Now referring to FIGS. 13-17 , even though the cable slack managementmodule 10 has been described as being used as a cable slackstorage/management device, the cable management module 10 can be set upto be used as a simple distribution or a fan-out module where fibers 16entering the module 10 are output in a pass-through configuration,wherein one or more of the trays 34 are not used for carrying coiledcables 16.

For example, FIG. 13 illustrates the cable management module 10 set upto output the cabled fibers 16 directly from the module 10 withoutstoring any extra slack 16. Fibers 16 are input via the fan-out 20 andare output via an opening 78 at a front side of the base 22 that is atthe same plane 76 as the fan-out 20.

FIG. 14 illustrates a set-up where only one of the trays 34 (e.g., thelower tray 34 a) is used for storing cable slack 16. As shown in thedepicted example, one of the sliding adapter modules 14 receivesconnectorized cables 16 that account for slack and the other of thesliding adapter modules 14 receives connectorized cables 16 directlyfrom the module 10 without any cable slack.

FIG. 15 illustrates the version of the cable slack management module 10discussed previously, where both of the trays 34 are being used forstoring/managing cable slack 16, where one of the sliding adaptermodules 14 receives connectorized cables 16 output from the lower tray34 a at a first level and the other sliding adapter module 14 receivesconnectorized cables 16 output from the upper tray 34 b at a secondlevel, wherein both of the levels are above the input plane 76 definedby the fan-out 20.

FIGS. 16-17 illustrate the module set-up of FIG. 15 with the upper cover42 applied.

In the depicted embodiment, the cable slack management module 10 isdesigned to manage twenty-four 900 μm fibers that are input into themodule 10 through a twenty-four fiber fan-out 20. As illustrated, thetwenty-four fibers may be split into two groups of twelve fibers beforeexiting the module 10, wherein each group of twelve fibers may be leadto oppositely moving sliding adapter modules 14 (as shown in FIGS. 13-17) or adjacent stacked adapter modules 14 that move in the samedirection. The cable slack management module 10 provides multiple set-upoptions.

The chassis 12 depicted in FIGS. 1-4 is a 288-fiber chassis, withtwenty-four sliding adapter modules 14 (i.e., two sets of twelveoppositely moving adapter modules 14), each adapter module 14 includingtwelve adapter ports. The fiber counts can be varied depending upon thedesired density at both the input side (different fan-out devices) or atthe output side.

Although in the foregoing description, terms such as “top,” “bottom,”“front,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upper,” and “lower” may have beenused for ease of description and illustration, no restriction isintended by such use of the terms. The devices described herein can beused in any orientation, depending upon the desired application.

Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments of the presentdisclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts mayreadily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended thatsuch modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of theclaims which are appended hereto.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A fiber optic cable slack management modulecomprising: a base defining a first cable management spool, an outerface of which is configured to contact cables when cables are pulledaway from the base; a second cable management spool, within which thefirst cable management spool is located, wherein an inner face of thesecond cable management spool is configured to contact cables whencables are in a relaxed, non-pulled state, wherein the fiber optic cableslack management module defines a cable exit; and at least one trayremovably mounted to the base, the at least one tray configured formanaging cables, wherein an outer peripheral wall of the at least onetray defines the second cable management spool, a cable entrance pointfor the at least one tray being adjacent the cable exit, wherein thefirst and second cable management spools are configured such that thecables are looped once around the at least one tray and the first cablemanagement spool does not contact the cables when the cables are in therelaxed, non-pulled state and contacts the cables when the cables arepulled away from the base.
 2. A fiber optic cable slack managementmodule according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of removabletrays mounted to the base in a stacked configuration, each of the traysconfigured for managing cables, wherein an outer peripheral wall of eachtray defines the second cable management spool, wherein fibers enteringthe base along a common plane are directed to multiple different levelsprovided by the trays via ramps defined by the trays.
 3. A fiber opticcable slack management module according to claim 2, wherein theplurality of trays comprises two trays.
 4. A fiber optic cable slackmanagement module according to claim 1, wherein an input for the cableslack management module is defined by a fiber optic fan-out.
 5. A fiberoptic cable slack management module according to claim 4, wherein theinput is defined at a rear of the base and the cable exit is defined ata front of the base, wherein the input and the cable exit are generallyaligned when viewed in a front to back direction.
 6. A fiber optic cableslack management module according to claim 2, wherein each tray definesa smooth, flush ceiling so as to allow unobstructed movement of thecables between the relaxed, non-pulled state and a pulled state.
 7. Afiber optic cable slack management module according to claim 6, whereineach tray defines cable retention fingers extending inwardly from theouter peripheral wall, the retention fingers fitting within notchesdefined by a cover for each tray so as to define the smooth, flushceiling.
 8. A fiber optic cable slack management module according toclaim 7, wherein the cover for at least one of the trays is defined by afloor of an adjacent upper tray.
 9. A fiber optic cable slack managementmodule according to claim 1, further comprising snap-fit features forremovably mounting to a telecommunications fixture.
 10. A fiber optictelecommunications system comprising: a telecommunications chassisincluding a plurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the chassis; atleast one cable slack management module mounted to the chassis, thecable slack management module configured to manage cables extending fromfiber optic connectors coupled to the plurality of fiber optic adapters,the at least one cable slack management module comprising: a basedefining a first cable management spool, an outer face of which isconfigured to contact cables when cables are pulled away from the base;a second cable management spool, within which the first cable managementspool is located, wherein an inner face of the second cable managementspool is configured to contact cables when cables are in a relaxed,non-pulled state, wherein the fiber optic cable slack management moduledefines a cable exit; and at least one tray removably mounted to thebase, the at least one tray configured for managing cables, wherein anouter peripheral wall of the at least one tray defines the second cablemanagement spool, a cable entrance point for the at least one tray beingadjacent the cable exit, wherein the first and second cable managementspools are configured such that the cables are looped once around the atleast one tray and the first cable management spool does not contact thecables when the cables are in the relaxed, non-pulled state and contactsthe cables when the cables are pulled away from the base.
 11. A fiberoptic telecommunications system according to claim 10, furthercomprising a plurality of the cable slack management modules mounted tothe chassis in a stacked arrangement.
 12. A fiber optictelecommunications system according to claim 10, wherein the pluralityof fiber optic adapters includes LC format fiber optic adapters.
 13. Afiber optic telecommunications system according to claim 10, wherein aninput for the at least one cable slack management module is defined by afiber optic fan-out that separates ribbonized fibers into individualcabled fibers leading to the fiber optic connectors coupled to theplurality of fiber optic adapters.
 14. A fiber optic telecommunicationssystem according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality ofremovable trays mounted to the base in a stacked configuration, each ofthe trays configured for managing cables, wherein an outer peripheralwall of each tray defines the second cable management spool, whereinfibers entering the base along a common plane are directed to multipledifferent levels provided by the trays via ramps defined by the trays.15. A fiber optic telecommunications system according claim 11, whereineach cable slack management module includes two of the trays.
 16. Afiber optic telecommunications system according to claim 14, whereineach tray defines a smooth, flush ceiling so as to allow unobstructedmovement of the cables between the relaxed, non-pulled state and apulled state.
 17. A fiber optic telecommunications system according toclaim 16, wherein each tray defines cable retention fingers extendinginwardly from the outer peripheral wall, the retention fingers fittingwithin notches defined by a cover for each tray so as to define thesmooth, flush ceiling.